Last week, Hyundai finally introduced the Kona in Malaysia, taking the fight to the Honda HR-V, Toyota C-HR and Mazda CX-3. We’ve now taken a closer look at all three variants of the B-segment SUV to give you a better idea of what you can expect to get in terms of specifications and equipment.
Prices start from RM115,888 for the base 2.0 model, rising up to RM120,888 for the 2.0 Active and RM143,888 for the range-topping 1.6 Turbo. These figures are introductory prices – inclusive of a reduction in the sales and service tax (SST) – and will go up a full RM8,000 starting next year.
The funkily-styled crossover will be powered by a choice of two engines. The first is a 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated Atkinson cycle four-cylinder making 149 PS at 6,200 rpm and 180 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm, paired to a six-speed automatic gearbox.
The more powerful 1.6 litre direct-injected turbo mill pushes out 177 PS at 5,500 rpm and 265 Nm of torque from 1,500 to 4,500 rpm, mated to a seven-speed dry dual-clutch transmission. So equipped, the Kona will get from zero to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds, matching the recently-launched Proton X50 1.5 TGDi.
As standard, the Kona comes with keyless entry, push-button start, a reverse camera and a seven-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. The 2.0 Active and 1.6 Turbo are fairly closely specced and add LED head- and tail lights, larger 18-inch alloy wheels, a head-up display, automatic climate control and a powered driver’s seat.
However, only the range-topper comes with the full array of SmartSense safety features, including autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist and automatic high beam. Six airbags and stability control are fitted across the range, with the 2.0 Active adding blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert.
Wanna go into deeper detail about what you’ll get from each variant? Then watch our walk-around video above to learn more. As usual, you can let us know what you think in the comments after the jump.
GALLERY: Hyundai Kona 2.0 Active
GALLERY: Hyundai Kona 1.6 Turbo
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YOLO… drive & feel proud in funkily-styled crossover Hyundai Kona. or yawn inside boring X50 with more x50 siblings bersepah atas jalan.. go to bed 1st
148k , must be a joke.
Hyundai must be dreaming, with the price of the specifications you are providing to us is no joke…….
Why the B-SUV at C-SUV Tucson Price now
Does it have to go above Proton X50?
Hyundai Kona came into the ring taking the fight to the Honda HR-V, Toyota C-HR and Mazda CX-3. In comes Proton X50 and told all four of them to come at it. X50 is the one left standing.
And seven-speed dry dual-clutch transmission? That is a big red flag to avoid this variant.
with this price range, if can deliver 100 units to customers hands by June 2021 consider goal reached.
Kona the new kid on the block. Will sure get some HRV and X70 market share.
First look? Why should we be looking at a car that is being superseded by a sleeker facelifted model? Mind you this is CBU not CKD. Special clearance prices for our importer Sime Darby Motor?
I’ll take X50, anytime, anyday. With the balance cash, I’ll go road trip with family.
The Japs were once arrogant that the Koreans couldn’t catch up, but they were wrong.
History repeats itself. This time, they thought
“Hey we are better than China car, so if we price higher than them, people still buy in droves.”
144k For a manual handbrake…thanks, but no thanks….would rather ‘corner’ to other brands
Already looses to x50, launching at wrong place and wrong time
No matter how you look at kona, it’s just something suited for showroom and not parked in households’ porch.
Your entry level maybe a seller
But your top model (at that price tag) LOL
Their entry level will get slaughtered by X50 Flagship. Top range level? No need to say.
Last time, Korean cars gave me an impression where they were offering a lot more gadgets compared against Jap cars and yet selling slightly cheaper. But now, I feel that Korean cars starts offering kosong spec car for low spec but yet the price is very high. Do not even talk about high spec. For RM143k, I would rather buy Mazda CX3.
For RM143k, better buy brand new Honda CR-V FL.
Time for paultan to make new review: X50 vs kona vs seltos vs chr vs cx3 vs hrv vs xv
Wait … 7 speed ‘Dry Clutch’ transmission? Even VW doesnt sell dry clutch transmission anymore because of reliability problem. DOA for Hyundai Kona for dry clutch and high selling price
All the korean cars are selling expensive in Malaysia now………………Cheap korean car era has ended. Now, quickly buy China car first. They will sell expensive one day too. At the end, all of us has to buy overpriced national cars.